Side wall core barrel



June 11, 1946. E; B. WILLIAMS, JR 2,401,893

SIDE WALL CORE BARREL Filed May 6, 1943 Patented June'll,Y 1946 UNITEDsinergias PATENT oFFlcE.

SIDE WALL CORE BARREL Edward B. Williams. Jr., Greenville, Tex.Application May 6. 1943, Serial No. 485,824

This invention relates to core bits, particularly for taking side wallcores of wells and other bore holes to ascertain the character of earthformations through which a borehole has been drilled. The principalobject of the invention is to provide a core drill bit of this characteradapted to be set at any selected depth and actuated by the usual drillrod or to make a side wall core of relatively long length.

Other objects ofthe invention are to provide a side wall core drillwith'a whipstock adaptedv to be set by pressure of drilling fluid withinthe core barrel soas to deilect the bit and core barrel into the sidewall at the desired level, to provide a side wall core bit wherein thewhipstock element thereof is readily withdrawn when the bit is to beremoved therefrom, to provide a side wall core bit that may be readilypositioned for taking a succeeding core in a different direction A 'orat another level, and to provide a side wall core bit that is safelyoperated without endangerbit embodying the features of the presentinvention and shows the bit being lowered into a borehole.

` Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the bit.

ll'ig.` 3 is a similar section showing the sleevelike'body of the bitsupported at a nxed level in a borehole and illustrating the whipstock.supporting the drill in denected position for taking a side wall core. ll y Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the bit on the lined-tof Fig.2. Referring more in detail to the drawing:` I designates aside wallcore bit constructed in accordance with the present invention and whichis adapted for attachment to the lower e'nd of a drill pipe 2 wherebythe bit is lowered into the well androtated to take a side wall core.The bit includes a core barrel 3 of a length to contain the desiredlength core therein. The

lower end of the core barrel is internally threaded as at 4 toaccommodate the threaded shank l5 of a cutter (having an annular cuttingface .'I as in standard core bit construction. The cutter has'a centralopening I registering with the axis of the core. barrel to pass the coretherein, the core being the portion of the earthformation within theannular cut produced by the vannulant (Cl. Z55-1.4)

, 2 cutting face l of the cutter. The core is retained within-the corebarrelby a conventional core catcher as indicated atl, Figs. 2 and 3.The upper end of the core barrel includesa coupling 6 section M) that isthreadedly connected with the lower portion of the barrel as at II andhas the usual connection for attachment to the end of the drill pipe.

Projecting laterally from the` coupling section I on oppositediametrical sides thereof are arcuate lugs I2 having Aadjacent ends I3thereof spaced apart to engage interiltting lugs Il on the head Il of asleeve-like body I8 which is positioned over the core barrel and whichis suspended therefrom when the drill bit is loweredr into a borehole.The sleeve-like body IB'includes 'an annular wall Il of slightly largerdiameter than the outer diameter of the core barrel to accommodate thelugsy I2 so that the sleeve-like body is freely movable downwarmywithinche sleeve-like body as later described. The upper end of thesleeve-likebody is internally threaded to mount the head I6, which headis provided with an inwardly extending flange I8 encircling 25 the corebarrel and which is adapted to seat upon the lugs I2. The lugs Il areformed on the under side of the flange Il at a point intermediate theends of the lugs I2,.each having ends I8 adapted to abut the ends Il ofthe lugs when the flange is seated on the lugs so that the sleeve-likebody may be rotated with the-drill pipe when desired. The lower end ofthe sleeve-like body is internally threaded as at to receive theexternal threads 2l on the ange 22 of a cap 2l. 'I'he side wall ofthesleeve-like -body has an elongated opening or passageway 24 throughwhich the core barrel is deflected to drill intothe side wall of aformation as later described.

The sleeve-like body contains a whipstock 25 having a substantiallycylindrical body 20 freely contained within the sleeve-like body I8 andhav. ing its upper end sloping upwardly and inwardly iromthe opening 24at an angle; for example, approximately 15, toprovide a deecting laceand guide 21 for directing the core bit into the side wall of the borehole when the sleeve-like body is set within the bore hole.

The sleeve-like body is set by gripping means which is carried by thecap 23. The gripping 50 means includes a pair of jaws 28 and 29 of euh1stantially arcuate cross section and having a plurality of downwardlyfacing teeth adapted to bite within the wall of the borehole and preventmovement of thesleeve-like body therein.

Il The upper ends of the jaws are pivotally susassises l 35 which isoperable within a slot 36 of a plunger 5 rod 31. The plunger rod isreciprocable through a bore A38 extending axially of a boss 39 that isformed on the lower falce of the cap 23 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.The upper end of the plunger rod projects into the sleeve-like body and10 has a head d thereon for seating the lower end of the whipstock 25.The plunger rod is normally retained in position to 'effect retractionof the gripping jaws by means of a coil spring 4I `having one end seatedrist the cap 23 and 15 its other end bearing under the head Miss bestshown in Fig. 2. V lC'he laws are retained in retracted position bymeansof a friction clamp 42 having one end pivotally. engaging a 'pintson one of the jaws and its other end latchingly engaging a. pin 46on'the other jaw. The end of the plunger when in retracted position ispositioned directly under the clamp so that the irst movement thereofeffects disengagement of the clamp.

Downward movement of the plunger is limited 25 by an annular stop 45encircling the spring 4| as shown in Fig. e. The upperv end of the'whipstock is guidedly supported within the sleeve-like body by means ofa transverse pin 68 having its ends extending through slots 41 formed inoppo- 30 site diametrlcal sides of the sleeve-like body and which are'ofa length to accommodate ample movement of the whlpstock in effectingsetting of the gripping laws.

Mounted on the portion of the pin et -that extends across a slot orgroove 41m the whipstock is thelower end 4S of. a piston element e9extending into the lower end of the core barrel to close the endthereof. Thcpiston element is preferably formed of some readilydisintegrable o material such as cork, wood or the like and which mayform Va suiliciently tight contact with. the inner surface of the corebarrel to provide esubstantially leak-'tight Joint therebet e but whichwill accommodate movement of the piston ele- 45 whipstock above the head4d as shown inFig. 2. 55

In order to facilitatelowex'ing of the drill into a borehole, thepiston-like Velement $8 has a bore E0 therethrough which is closed atthe upper end by means of flap valve 5l seated within a utilm-v terbore52intheupperendothepisfon.-The su nap valve is normally retained. invalving position` by a spring 83 yleldable under pressureof uid in thewell bit is being loweredthereinto for equalizing p fa: u fr within andwithout thedrlllingtrlngsothttheplstonmits position in the corebarrel.

In-usingacorebitconstruetedandbled as described, the drill blt'bly' ismounted on thelower end of the drill pipe 2 and lowered within theborehole to a position at which a core is to be taken.- During downwardmovement of the assembly into the well, the sleevelike body' @frying thegrilling laws. is depending fromi thelugs i2 andthepistontispositionedwithintheboreofthewtter. yWellllid' bodyhavingacorebarrel thereoga corebarreLmeansfor sspendingthe v 4 v l upwardly throughthe bore and intothe drill pipe to accommodate any liquid that is displaced in theborehole. When the device reaches the Domtion at which a side wall coreis to be taken. pressure of the drilling iiuid in 'the drill pipe isincreased to the point where the piston-like element 49 is forceddownwardly within the core barrel to eect downward movement of thewhipstock and corresponding movement of the plunger rod 31, the initialmovement of which eects disengagement of the friction clamp 42 thatholds the jaws in retracted position. Further downward movement of theplunger brings the upper end of the slot 36 into engagement with. thepin 35 to effect movementof the jaws 28 and 2d into gripping engagementwith the walls of the borehole to support the sleeve-like body l@ oi thedrill in xed relation therewith. The drill pipe is then lowered so thatthe bitengages the deiiection end of the whipstock and the bit is causedto move outwardly therealong and throughthe passageway 23 to engage thewall of the borehole. During this movement, the lugs I2 clear the lugsi4 on the head i5 whereupon the drilling rod and core barrel may b erotated to cause the cutter to produce a channel-like annular recesswithin the formation with the intermediate portion of the formationcontained within the core barrel to form the core, which core isretained therein by the core catcher 9. The drilling is continued untila core of desired length is taken whereupon the drill pipe 2 is raisedwithin the borehole so 'that the lugs l2 again engage the ange on. the

head IE. Continued upward movement of the drill pipe lifts thesleeve-like body i6 andgpulls the gripping Jaws loose from the wall ofthe well so that they drop to released position. If necessary, the drillpipe may be roted in either direction to assist in loosening the jawssince the ends of .the lugs I2 engage the endsoi the lugs It on the angeof the head i5. When the lugs are in engagement, thecutter 6 has clearedthe whipstockl whereupon the whipstock may move upwardly responsive toaction of the spring 8l which assists in releasing the Jaws and keepsthe jaws in retracted position as the drill is brought to the top .ofthe borehole. A- When. the core'is removed, anew piston element may beapplied to the whipstock and the upper end positioned within the lowerend of the core barrel -so that, pressure may again be reestablished toeffect setting of the' laws as previously described. From theforegoing'it is obvious that -I have provided a side wall core drillwhich may be positively operated to take a sidewall core at any selectedposition within a borehole and which is readily withdrawn from theborehole after the corehasbeentaken; Itisalsoobviousthatl have provideda side wall core drill which may be rotated within the borehole toposition the cutter for. deection in the desired radial direction. Y

what IA claim and desire-to .secure by Letten Pnt is: l

1. A side wall core drill including a sleeve-like in. a sideVsleeve-like body. on the come barrel. gripping means carried by thesleeve-like body, a whip- -stock having limited inthe sleeve-@likebody-and arranged todeilect the core barrel ewes. anactuating'connectionI a; ernst to mmm M tm Y.'

' core barrel, and means connecting the piston element with thewhipstock'to effect said movement of the whipstock.

2. A side wall core drill including a sleeve-like body having a corebarrel passageway in the side thereof, a core barrel, meansforsuspending the sleeve-like body on the core barrel, gripping meanscarried by the sleeve-like body, a whipstock having limited movement inthe sleeve-like. body and arranged to deiiect the core barrel throughthe passageway, a core bit on the core l barrel, an actuating connectionbetween the whipstock and the gripping means to move the gripping meansinto gripping rposition responsive to movement of the whipstock, a.frangible piston element in the core barrel and movable when pressure isapplied to a iluid admitted to the core barrel, means connecting thepiston element with the whipstock to effect said movement of thewhipstoek, said piston being disintegrated through rotation of the corebarrel when the core barrel is deilected through the passagewayresponsive to lowering of the core barrel after setting of grippingmeans.

3. A side wall core drill including a sleeve-like body having a corebarrel passageway in a side thereof, a core barrel, means for slidablyand rotatably supporting the sleeve-like body on the core barrel,gripping laws having pivotal support by the sleevelike body, meansnormally retain- Aing the gripping jaws in retracted position, a

plunger slidably -supported by the sleeve-like body and having an endarranged to engage said retaining means, means connecting the grippingjaws with the plunger including a pin and slot connection for eiIectingdisengagement of the retaining means upon an initial movement of theplunger, a whipstock in the sleeve-like body andv supported by saidplunger, and a piston elemait connected with the whips/rock and movablein the core barrel upon application of pressure in the core barrel foreffecting actuation of the gripping jaws through the whipstock andplunger so that the jawsare adapted to support the whipstock in fixedposition for deecting the core barrel through said passageway when thecore barrel is lowered after setting of the gripping means. 4. A sidewall core drill including a sleeve-like body having a' core barrelpassageway in the side thereof, a core barrel, means supporting thesleeve-like body on the core barrel, a core bit carried on the lower end'of the core barrel, gripping jaws pivotally suspended from thesleevelike body, a. plunger movable in said sleeve-like body, meansconnecting the plunger with the gripping jaws, a whipstxzk movablymounted in the sleeve-like body in position to engage the plunger, apiston-like element having pivotal connection with the whipstock andvlnvinY en upperendwlthin'thelowerendofthecorebarrel.

said piston being movable in the core barrel responsive to pressureapplied to the core barrel to eiect setting of the gripping jaws forsupporting the whipstock iniixed position within a borehole to throughthe core barrel passageway.

5. A side wall core drill including a sleeve-like body having a corebarrel passageway in a side ,'thereof, a core barrel, means supportingthe sleeve-like body on the core barrel, gripping jaws having pivotalsupport by the sleeve-like body, a clamp normally retaining the grippinglaws in retracted position, a plungerslid'ably supported by thesleeve-like body and having an end arranged to engage said clamp, meansconnecting the gripping jaws with the plunger including a pinv and slot.connection for eil'ecting disengagement of the clamp upon initialmovement of the plunger, a whipstock supported in said sleeve-like bodyby said plunger, and a piston element connected with the 'whipstockandhaving a portion in the lower end ofthe core barrel and movable uponapplication of pressure duid through the core barrel to effect actuationo! the gripping jaws' through the whipstock and plunger.

- 6. A side wall drill including a barrel having a passageway for fluidunder pressure, a whipstock carrier having a lateral opening throughwhich the barrel is adapted to be dei'iected, interengaging releasablemeans between the whipstock carrier and the barrel for supporting thewhipstock carrier on the barrel, a -whlpstock movable in said carrier,wall gripping means on the whipstock carrier, a plunger engaged .withthe whipstock, an operating connection between the plunger and thegripping means. means closing the passageway in the barrel and movableresponsive' to pressure of said fluid, and means connecting said closingmeans with the .whipetock for moving the whipstock in the carrier foractuating the plunger. for setting said rippin means.

'1. A side wall core barrel including a body member having a core barrelpassageway in a sidethereof, acore barrel, means carrying the bodymember from the core barreLgripplng jaws havlngpivotl Support on thebody member. j

means having dicengageable connection with the gripping jaws fornormally retaining the gripping Jaws in retracted position, a plungersiidablt supported by the body member and disengage said retainingneans, a whipstock movable in said body member and cngageable with saidplunger, a piston element connected wi*h. the whipetock and movable inthe core barrel when pressure is applied on fluid admitted'into the corebarrel to effect actuation o! the tripping jaws through the whipetockand plunger, and valve mean; for admitting fluid into the core barrelwhen said core barrel is lowered into a' borehole. mwa-an B. wmmms. Jn.

fleet deilection of the core barrel,

